Sports Glove

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure generally provides an athletic or sports glove. The sports glove includes a palm-receiving portion and a thumb-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion. The thumb-receiving portion has a thumb-gripping projection disposed on it. The sports glove also includes an index finger-receiving portion that also extends from the palm-receiving portion. There is an index finger-gripping projection on the index finger-receiving portion. A little finger-receiving portion also extends from the palm-receiving portion and has a little finger-gripping projection on it. The sports glove also includes a dual finger-receiving portion that also extends from the palm-receiving portion, and it is configured to receive a middle finger and a ring finger of a human hand. There is a dual finger-gripping projection disposed on the dual finger-receiving portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/235,744 filed on Aug. 21, 2009 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office entitled “Football Glove.” The entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/235,744 is incorporated by reference as if fully disclosed herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to sports gloves, and more particularly to gloves for catching and holding onto a ball, such as a football or soccer ball.

BACKGROUND

Gloves used in sports and other athletic competitions are well known in the art. In fact, form-fitting gloves that are designed to enhance a football player's ability to receive a football are available at a variety of sports and athletic equipment retailers. For example, the NFL Equipment Fade WR/RB Gloves are widely available. Although, these gloves may allow a football player to secure and control a football, the football player may be susceptible to jamming or otherwise injuring his fingers when catching a thrown football using such conventional sports gloves.

Thus, there is a need for a sports glove that reduces the possibility that a player catching a football or soccer ball will jam or otherwise injure his or her fingers. Moreover, there exists a further need for a glove that accommodates a football player who already has an injured finger and wishes to tape two fingers together in an effort to avoid any further injury.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide an athletic or sports glove. The sports glove includes a palm-receiving portion and a thumb-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion. The thumb-receiving portion has a thumb-gripping projection disposed on it. The sports glove also includes an index finger-receiving portion that also extends from the palm-receiving portion. There is an index finger-gripping projection on the index finger-receiving portion. A little finger-receiving portion also extends from the palm-receiving portion and has a little finger-gripping projection on it. The sports glove also includes a dual finger-receiving portion that also extends from the palm-receiving portion and is configured to receive a middle finger and a ring finger of a human hand. There is a dual finger-gripping projection disposed on the dual finger-receiving portion.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure could reduce the possibility that a player's finger becomes jammed or otherwise injured when catching a football or soccer ball.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure could increase the ability of a football player to catch, grip, and secure a football once it is thrown to him.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure could cushion the impact of a football with certain portions of a receiver's hands. For example, the teachings of the present disclosure may cushion the impact of a football on a receiver's fingertips and palm when catching a football.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a palm-facing view of a right hand of a sports glove comprising a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a palm-facing view of a right hand of a sports glove comprising a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a component which may be used in conjunction with the sports gloves shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a component which may be used in conjunction with the sports gloves of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a component which may be used in conjunction with the sports gloves of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a component which may be used in conjunction with the sports gloves shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a right hand similar to the sports glove of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally provides a sports glove including features that may be improvements over the prior art. In particular, one embodiment may reduce incidents of jammed fingers when catching and securing a football while still maintaining the feel and gripping ability of conventional sports gloves. Particular applications of a sports glove according to the teaching of the present disclosure may cushion the impact and allow improved catching and securing of a football, soccer ball, or other ball used in a variety of different sports.

FIG. 1 is palm-facing view of a right hand of a sports glove 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the sports gloves and other features shown in FIGS. 1-7 are for illustrative purposes only and that any other suitable gloves could be used in conjunction with or in lieu of the illustrated sports gloves and features according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the sports glove 10 comprising a first embodiment of the disclosure is shown. The sports glove 10 includes a dual finger-receiving portion 12 that receives both the middle finger and the ring finger of the wearer. The dual finger-receiving portion 12 may comprise a unitary structure. The dual finger-receiving portion 12 may be particularly useful in preventing jamming or other injury that might suffered by the middle or ring finger of the wearer when catching, for example, a football. In certain embodiments, a wearer may go further in reducing the risk of injury to his middle or ring finger by taping them together and then putting on the sports glove 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The sports glove 10 also includes gripping projections 24 located near a fingertip portion of the sports glove 10. Certain embodiments may also include the gripping projections 24 coupled to other portions of the sports glove 10. For example, a dual finger-gripping projection 24 a may be disposed on the dual finger-receiving portion 12, an index finger-gripping projection 24 b may be disposed on an index finger-receiving portion 14, a little finger-gripping projection 24 c may be disposed on a little finger-receiving portion 16, and a thumb-gripping projection 24 d may be disposed on a thumb-receiving portion 18. In one embodiment, a palm-gripping projection 24 e may be disposed on a palm-receiving portion 20. The gripping projections 24 may be any suitable variety of shapes and sizes. For example, the gripping projections 24 may generally be diamond-shaped. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the generally diamond-shaped gripping projections 24 may define a generally frame-like feature with the respective dual-finger, finger, thumb, or palm surface of the sports glove 10 disposed within.

It has been found that by receiving the middle and ring fingers in a single enclosure and by providing gripping projections 24 at strategic locations on the sports glove 10, the handling of a conventional football either during a game or during practice is substantially facilitated.

FIG. 2 is a palm-facing view of a left hand of a sports glove 30 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. In accordance therewith, the sports glove 30 includes a separate receptacle for each of the fingers of the human hand. Similarly to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the sports glove 30 includes an index finger-gripping projection 24 b that may be disposed on an index finger-receiving portion 14, a little finger-gripping projection 24 c that may be disposed on a little finger-receiving portion 16, and a thumb-gripping projection 24 d that may be disposed on a thumb-receiving portion 18. In addition, the sports glove 30 includes a middle finger-receiving portion 32 and a ring finger-receiving portion 34, as opposed to the dual finger-receiving portion 12 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. With respect to the middle finger-receiving portion 32 and the ring finger-receiving portion 34 of the sports glove 30, the gripping projection is split forming a generally half-frame-like feature, as shown at 24′. Thus, the sports glove 30 of FIG. 2 functions substantially similar to that of the sports glove 10 shown in FIG. 1 when the sports glove 30 is in use. In one application, the sports glove 30 may be slipped over the hand of the wearer, and then the middle finger-receiving portion 32 and the ring finger-receiving portion 34 may be taped together with athletic tape. This may allow the sports glove 30 to function similarly to the sports glove 10 in preventing jamming of the fingers of the wearer while still providing improved gripping ability.

The palmar side of the embodiment of the sports glove 10 shown in FIG. 1 may include the dual finger-receiving portion 12, the index finger-receiving portion 14, the little finger-receiving portion 16, the thumb-receiving portion 18, and the palm-receiving portion 20. The palmar side of the embodiment of the sports glove 30 shown in FIG. 2 may include the index finger-receiving portion 14, the little finger-receiving portion 16, the thumb-receiving portion 18, the middle finger-receiving portion 32, the ring finger-receiving portion 34, and the palm-receiving portion 20. The palmar side of embodiments of the sports gloves 10 and 30 of the present disclosure may comprise a tacky material to aid gripping a football. For example, the palmar side may be covered with a tacky polymer that may be used in gloves sold under the trademark of Reebok International Ltd., “Griptonite.” “Griptonite” may have unique properties in that it may get tackier and grip even better in cold, snowy, or rainy weather. Embodiments of the invention are not limited to “Griptonite,” but may comprise any suitable tacky material as a coating or covering for the palmar side of sports gloves 10 and 30. For example, tacky materials such as rubber or other suitable material or coating may be used consistent with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIGS. 3 through 6, inclusive, illustrate variations of the gripping projections 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. FIG. 3 illustrates a diamond-shaped gripping projection 50 having a pyramid-shaped upper surface projecting therefrom. FIG. 4 illustrates a diamond-shaped gripping projection 54 having a flat upper surface. FIG. 5 illustrates a diamond-shaped gripping projection 52 having a generally frame-like shape, similar to gripping projection 24 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 illustrates a non-diamond-shaped gripping projection 56, which is oval in shape and comprises a hollow interior, similar to gripping projections 24 and 52. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the projections shown in FIGS. 3 through 6 can be used interchangeably or can be used in combination depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the sports gloves 10 and 30.

Gripping projections 24, 24′, 50, 52, 54, and 56 each may cushion an impact with the fingertips and the palm of the wearer when the wearer catches a football. Gripping projections 24, 24′, 50, 52, 54, and 56 may also aid in gripping the football through their tackiness. In certain embodiments, gripping projections 24, 24′, 50, 52, 54, and 56 may comprise any suitable material with sufficient elasticity and tackiness. For example, gripping projections 24, 24′, 50, 52, 54, and 56 may be made of a polymer, such as rubber.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the reverse or dorsal side of a right hand of the sports glove 10 similar to that shown in FIG. 1 and described hereinabove. The sports glove 10 may include a back hand-receiving portion 58 that may be constructed at least partially of a flexible material 60. For example, the flexible material 60 may comprise spandex, neoprene, leather, cotton, polyester, and the like. As illustrated, the back hand-receiving portion 58 is shown on only a portion of certain of the finger portions of the sports glove 10, but certain embodiments may include the flexible material 60 on a substantial portion or all of the back hand-receiving portion 58. The use of the flexible material 60 on the reverse side on one or more of the finger portions comprising the sports glove 10 is useful in allowing the fingers of the football player to curl inwardly thereby facilitating a secure reception of the football. As also shown in FIG. 7, the various sports gloves 10 and 30 disclosed and described herein may be provided with indicia 62, which may identify the glove with a particular football team, a particular football player, a supplier of football gloves, and the like. In certain embodiments, the sports gloves 10 and 30 may also include a wrist closure that comprises a hook and loop material that adhere when pressed together, commonly sold under the trademark “Velcro®.”

While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations, and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims. 

1. A sports glove, comprising: a palm-receiving portion; a thumb-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion and having a thumb-gripping projection disposed thereon; an index finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion and having an index finger-gripping projection disposed thereon; a little finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion and having a little finger-gripping projection disposed thereon; and a dual finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion, the dual finger-receiving portion configured to receive a middle finger and a ring finger of a human hand and having a dual finger-gripping projection disposed thereon.
 2. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein the thumb-gripping projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little finger-gripping projection, and the dual finger-gripping projection are each generally diamond-shaped.
 3. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein the thumb-gripping projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little finger-gripping projection, and the dual finger-gripping projection each comprise rubber.
 4. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein a palmar side of the sports glove comprises a tacky material.
 5. The sports glove of claim 4, wherein the tacky material becomes tackier when wet.
 6. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein the thumb-gripping projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little finger-gripping projection, and the dual finger-gripping projection are each located closer to a fingertip portion of the sports glove than the palm-receiving portion.
 7. The sports glove of claim 1, further comprising: a back hand-receiving portion, the back hand-receiving portion comprising a flexible material.
 8. The sports glove of claim 7, wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of spandex, neoprene, leather, cotton, and polyester.
 9. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein: the thumb-gripping projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little finger-gripping projection, and the dual finger-gripping projection are each generally diamond-shaped and each comprises rubber; and each of the generally diamond-shaped projections defines a frame-like feature having an exterior surface of the sports glove disposed within.
 10. The sports glove of claim 1, further comprising a palm-gripping projection disposed on the palm-receiving portion.
 11. An athletic glove, comprising: a palm-receiving portion; a thumb-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion and having a thumb-gripping projection disposed thereon; an index finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion and having an index finger-gripping projection disposed thereon; a little finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion and having a little finger-gripping projection disposed thereon; wherein the thumb-gripping projection, the index finger-gripping projection, and the little finger-gripping projection each comprise a generally diamond-shape; a middle finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion, the middle finger-receiving portion having a middle finger-gripping projection disposed thereon, the middle finger-gripping projection being a half of the generally diamond-shape; and a ring finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion, the ring finger-receiving portion having a ring finger-gripping projection disposed thereon, the ring finger-gripping projection being an other half of the generally diamond-shape.
 12. The athletic glove of claim 11, wherein the thumb-gripping projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little finger-gripping projection, the middle finger-gripping projection, and the ring finger-gripping projection each comprise rubber.
 13. The athletic glove of claim 11, wherein the thumb-gripping projection, the index finger-gripping projection, the little finger-gripping projection, the middle finger-gripping projection; and the ring finger-gripping projection are each located closer to a fingertip portion of the athletic glove than the palm-receiving portion.
 14. The athletic glove of claim 11, wherein the thumb-gripping projection, the index finger-gripping projection, and the little finger-gripping projection each defines a frame-like feature having an exterior surface of the sports glove disposed within; and the middle finger-gripping projection and the ring finger-gripping projection each defines a half of the frame-like feature having the exterior surface of the sports glove disposed within.
 15. The athletic glove of claim 14, wherein the middle finger-gripping projection together with the ring finger-gripping projection form the generally diamond-shape.
 16. The athletic glove of claim 11, wherein a palmar side of the athletic glove comprises a tacky material.
 17. The athletic glove of claim 16, wherein the tacky material becomes tackier when wet.
 18. The athletic glove of claim 17, wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of spandex, neoprene, leather, cotton, and polyester.
 19. The athletic glove of claim 11, further comprising a palm-gripping projection disposed on the palm-receiving portion.
 20. A method for applying a sports glove, comprising: taping together a middle finger and a ring finger of a human hand; and receiving the taped together middle finger and ring finger of the human hand by a sports glove, the sports glove comprising: a palm-receiving portion; a thumb-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion and having a thumb-gripping projection disposed thereon; an index finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion and having an index finger-gripping projection disposed thereon; a little finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion and having a little finger-gripping projection disposed thereon; and a dual finger-receiving portion extending from the palm-receiving portion, the dual finger-receiving portion configured to receive the taped together middle finger and ring finger of the human hand and having a dual finger-gripping projection disposed thereon. 